One of the benchmarks for Washington Cabernet. Still a good value after many vintages. Rich fruit and toasty oak make for a wine that is immediately enjoyable. From one of Walla Walla's first wineries.
Detailed Info, Previous Vintage Notes, Reviews:
Variety: 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine is a blend of several premium Columbia Valley vineyards including Milbrandt, Willard, Portteus, Cold Creek, Goose Ridge, Candy Mountain, and Seven Hills. Most of these vines were planted in the 1970's and early 1980's.Harvest: While we encountered a number of challenges with the hard 2004 winter, we were pleasantly surprised by the enduring quality of many of the older vineyards. At most sites, a larger number of buds were left to make up for the winter bud damage. More focused viticultural management was required to tame these canopies, including multiple labor passes for shoot thinning and yield balance. Late summer ripening delivered up excellent quality despite lower than normal yields, a staunch reminder that sometimes the best vintages are cultivated from less than ideal growing conditions.
Technical:
This Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested beginning in late-September and extending into late-October for the cooler sites, averaging 24.1% Brix, 3.47 pH and 0.61 grams/100 ml acidity.
Bottled 5,524 cases July 10th thru 12th, 2006; pH 3.74, acid 0.61 g/100ml, 14.2% alcohol by volume, <0.2% residual sugar
Description:
With a classic varietal Cabernet profile, this richly structured and integrated wine shows blackberry, cassis and herbal, leather aromas with flavors of ripe plum, bittersweet chocolate, black cherry and currants on an earthy, spicy finish.
Vinification: Each lot was harvested ripe and gently crushed into one-ton stainless steel fermenters. The must was inoculated with yeast and punched down by hand during fermentation to maximize fruit extraction. When fermentation was complete or we were otherwise satisfied with the level of tannin and flavor extract the must was gently pressed. After settling, the wine was racked to 100% small oak barrels, with approximately 40% new oak and was barrel-aged 22 months with five rackings. The final blend was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its natural flavors.
This is a fantastic and unique wine. About the best I have had.
Its pronounced smokey aroma, rich color and fruty body is great
with hardy meals. I am no... more...
